The potential and capabilities of the LMUR missile "305"
Recently, in service with the Russian military aviation consists of a light multi-purpose guided missile (LMUR) "Product 305". It is intended for use on helicopters of various types and is capable of hitting a wide range of targets. The high performance and potential of this product was previously confirmed during tests, and now it is used in a real military operation.
For different customers
According to known data, the future rocket "305" was developed in the first half of the tenth years by the Kolomna Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering. The customer of the project was the FSB, which needed new guided weapons for special modifications of the Mi-8 helicopter. Not later than 2015-16 the project was completed and all the necessary tests were carried out.
Serial production of LMUR "305" started in 2016 and was carried out in the interests of the FSB aviation. How many rockets this service ordered, how much they cost, and how long production lasted is unknown. In addition, there is still no information about the use of 305 products by its aviation.
In the same period, the Air Force became interested in the new development of KBM. LMUR was studied and passed through the necessary tests, the results of which received a recommendation for adoption. Subsequently, the missile was adopted by attack and transport-combat helicopters of army aviation.
Until a certain time, the project with the code "305" was only mentioned in unofficial sources. The first display of such a missile took place only last year at the Army-2021 forum. Visitors to the event were shown a mock-up of the rocket in the export version of the 305E. At the same time, the main design features and characteristics became known.
According to some reports, already in 2016-17. serial LMURs were used by Air Force helicopters during various exercises. Then they were used against real targets in Syria. In mid-June 2022, the first reports of the use of such weapons within the framework of the Special Operation for the Protection of Donbass. In particular, video recordings made by optical homing missiles were published.
Details of the combat use of "Products 305" have not yet been disclosed. Perhaps they will appear later. However, even the known data on this missile allow us to imagine its capabilities and overall operational and combat potential.
High Performance
The 305 is an air-to-surface guided missile that is compatible with several different aerial platforms and capable of hitting a variety of ground targets. At the same time, it differs from other weapons in reduced dimensions and weight, but it shows increased flight characteristics. In fact, this is the first aviation missile with such a combination of characteristics and capabilities in service with our Air Force.
LMUR is built in a cylindrical body with a transparent head fairing. In the head part of the product there are X-shaped rudders, in the tail part there is a stabilizer of a similar design. A fairing of small section runs along the hull. The length of the rocket does not exceed 2 m, the body diameter is 200 mm. Starting weight - 105 kg.
A combined guidance system is placed in the head compartment. It includes inertial and satellite navigation devices, as well as optoelectronic seeker and autopilot. All these means ensure the use of the rocket in the "launched-forgotten" mode. There is also a radio station for data exchange with the carrier helicopter. In this case, the telemetry and video signal from the GOS can be sent to the helicopter, and commands are sent to the missile.
"305" is equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 25 kg. Characteristic transparent elements in the head of the rocket indicate the possibility of using a non-contact laser fuse. There must also be a contact undermining.
Most of the body is occupied by a solid rocket engine. It accelerates the missile up to 250 m/s and provides a range of up to 14,5 km. Depending on the launch altitude, the flight is carried out at altitudes from 100 to 600 m. In the final section, the missile dives at the target.
The new missile can be used by Mi-28NM and Ka-52 attack helicopters or Mi-8 multi-purpose helicopters. The rocket is transported and launched using the APU-305 device. It has mounts for hanging one ammunition, and is also equipped with a cover to protect the seeker fairing. The missile is controlled by the AS-UAV subsystem, which can be installed on different helicopters.
Potential and benefits
It is easy to see that the LMUR "305" is characterized by increased performance and has a number of important features. First of all, it's new. The rocket was developed just a few years ago according to modern technical specifications and is built on current technologies and component base. It is due to this that high technical characteristics are achieved.
An important advantage is compatibility with several media at once. This missile can be used by the Ka-52 and Mi-28NM, and without a radical upgrade of the onboard equipment. In addition, a missile of this class is being installed on the combat version of the multi-purpose Mi-8 for the first time. All this made it possible to fulfill the requirements of both the army and the special services.
"305" is distinguished by high performance characteristics. In terms of flight range, it surpasses existing missiles for helicopters, such as the Whirlwind or the Ataka. This increases the effectiveness of the missile attack and / or reduces the risks for the carrier helicopter. Also, LMUR is superior to other missiles in terms of mass and power of the warhead. However, it is not clear how effectively this product copes with armored targets - and whether it can be compared with specialized ATGMs.
Of great interest is the combined guidance system with several modes of operation. With its help, LMUR can hit stationary or moving targets with known and unknown coordinates. Navigation aids provide flight to a given target with its defeat or lead a missile to a given area, where the GOS is included in the work. Also, the GOS can be turned on immediately at start-up. In this case, it is possible to work in the "launched-forgotten" mode or exchange data with a carrier helicopter.
Taking into account various factors, the pilot-operator can choose the optimal operating mode of the rocket and launch it. It is also likely that the product can be retargeted already in flight. Due to the presence of several modes with different features, the probability of successfully hitting a particular target increases, regardless of the existing conditions.
It should be noted that the LMUR complements a number of other helicopter missile weapons, guided and unguided. At the same time, the “Product 305” turns out to be the most long-range and powerful model in this nomenclature and in an understandable way affects the overall capabilities of the helicopter.
Useful novelty
The 305 light multi-purpose guided missile compares favorably in all respects with other modern guided weapons for domestic helicopters. Depending on the situations that arise, it can supplement other aircraft weapons or take on targets that are inaccessible to it. As a result, the overall combat capabilities of the Ka-52 and Mi-28NM helicopters are growing significantly.
Thus, in terms of the combination of technical characteristics and combat potential, the Product 305 can be considered one of the most useful new products in the arsenals of the Air Force and the FSB. And right now, this novelty is demonstrating its capabilities in practice, hitting a variety of targets and enemy targets.
- Ryabov Kirill
- Bmpd.livejournal.com, Telegram / Kotsnews
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